Tunisian sour orange

Citrus aurantium L.

CRC 2438

PI 85728  

Photos by David Karp, CVC,  2/11/2008. Photo rights.

Source: Received as budwood from Nabeuil, SE of Tunis, collected by Fawcett, 1930.

Parentage/origins: Parents unknown.

Rootstocks of accession: Carrizo citrange, Yuma Ponderosa lemon

Season of ripeness at Riverside: December to February

Notes and observations:

12/1986, EMN: Bigaradia or sour orange type especially prized for its flowers for perfume, as used in southern France. Flattened, large fruits and petioles not so broadly winged. Said by Dr. Fawcett to be from a very fine parent. This cultivar has not done well on Carrizo & C-35 citrange rootstocks. The original tree planted in field on C-35 quickly declined and was replaced; the tree on Carrizo is now declining rapidly. To date it has done well on Yuma Ponderosa lemon (planted 1985).

2/24/1988, EMN: Fruit is flattened at both ends, often slightly concave at the blossom end and exhibits a small navel structure on most fruits. Typical sour orange inside.

2/11/2008, OJB, TS, & DK: Medium size, tender flesh; typical sour orange in form and flavor, but early maturing.

Availability: Not commercially available in California.

USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network page for Tunisian sour orange